Shift for coal



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. MQGARTY.

$HIPT FOR GOAL, &c'.

No. 426,045. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

T. MoGARTY.

SHIFT FOB. 00AL, &c.

Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MCCARTY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHIFT FOR COAL, 80C.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,045, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed August 19, 1889. Serial No. 321,213. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS MCCARTY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shifts for Goal, 850., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for loading, unloading, and shifting cargoes of coal, ore, and other articles in bulk, designed to be used in connection with orebanks, coal-yards, mills, and in loading, unloading, or shifting the cargoes of vessels and cars.

I will now describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art may manufacture and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a part, partly in section, on the line II II of Fig. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the partshown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of Fig. 3, showing in dottedlines the jib projected and showing in full lines the jib retracted.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the elevatortower, in which the hoisting mechanism is mounted and supported.

3 is a projecting jib, which, as hereinafter explained, is preferably arranged so that it may be retracted and projected. This jib is conveniently made of two parallel metal flanged beams connected at the ends, but somewhat separated, so as to accommodate an interposed trolley 4, provided with wheels which travel on the beams of the jib and with a pulley or sheave 5. The jib is braced by suitable struts or supports 6 and 7.

8 is a bucket supported by a chain or rope 9, which extends from a suitable hoisting-engine (not shown) over a sheave 10 on the tower, over the sheave 5 on the trolley, and around a sheave 11 to the trolley, to which it is attached. The sheave 11 is detachably connected by a hook or otherwise to the bail 12 of the bucket, and at its top is a block or shoe 11', made of proper surface form to fit against the under side of the trolley when elevated thereto.

lines in Fig. 2.)

The bucket is normally held in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2; but it is preferably constructed so that it may be upset, as hereinafterdescribed. Tothis end an arm or trigger 13 is pivoted to the bail 12 or to a projecting lug thereof and extends thence to a pin or stop 41 on the bucket, to

which it is detachably connected by a notch on the trigger fitting on the pin. The bail 12 is detachably connected with the bucket at points back of the center of gravity thereof and the trigger 13 hasashort proj ectingarm 14. The retracting mechanism of the trolley and bucket consists of a counter-weight or counter-weights 15, provided with ropes or chains 16, which pass over pulleys 17 on the tower and around sheaves 18 on the end of the jib to the under side of the forward part of the trolley, to which they are secured.

The operation of that part of the mechanism hereinbefore described is as follows: In Fig. 2 the bucket 8 is shown by full lines in proper position to receive a load from a car or boat under the jib. hen it has been loaded, the chain 9 is drawn by the hoistingengine, the effect of which is to elevate the bucket toward the trolley, the frictional resistance of the trolley and the inclination of thejib preventing motion of the trolley 011 the jib until the bucket is completely elevated. Then the action of the hoisting-engine is exerted on the trolley and draws it along the jib, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Vhen finally the bucket reaches the end of its travel, the short arm 11 of the trigger engages a fixed projection 43 on the tower, whereby the trigger is automatically tilted and its rear end disengaged from the bucket, thus permitting the latter to upset and to discharge its burden into a receiving car or bucket 19. The operation of upsetting the bucket is also shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The hoisting-engine is now thrown out of gear from its drum, so as to pay outthe chain 9, and the gravity of the counter-balances 15, acting on the chains 16 and on the trolley thereto attached, at once draws back the trolley and permits the bucket to descend into the original position. (Shown by full I shall now describe the construction and operation of those parts of the apparatus by ICO which the load discharged into the receivingcar 19 is conveyed to the place of discharge. The track on which the car moves consists, preferably, of inclined ropes or cables 20, which extend from the tower to the dischargeplatform 21. These cables form one piece, one end being attached to the tower or to a post at the foot of the same, the other end secured to a drum 0, provided with a crank c, by which it may be turned, and at the middle passing through asheave 20 near the dumping-platform 21. By shifting sheave 20 to the right or left the track may be made to lead to various places, and when the proper direction is secured the cables may be drawn taut by winding on the drum 0, as will be readily understood. A trolley 22, consisting of a frame provided with suitable wheels or pulleys, is mounted on the cables and the car is suspended from the trolley. A chain or rope 23 extends from the bucket over a sheave 24. on the tower and is Wrapped around a drum 25, and a counterbalancing-chain 26 is Wrapped around a drum on the shaft of the drum 25, and extends thence over a sheave 27 H on the tower to the counter-weight 28. The rotation of the drum may be controlled and checked by means of a friction-brake 29 of ordinary construction.

The operation is as follows: When the car has received its load from the bucket 8, the operator releases the friction-brake 29, and the trolley 22 and the loaded car, actuated by gravity, descend the track 20, and in their travel wind up the counterweighted chain 26 on its drum. When the car reaches the dump ing-platform, its load is discharged, and the car, being thus lightened, is at once, by the descent of the weight 28 and the consequent reverse rotation of the drum, drawn back into its original position. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

In order to prevent the inconvenience which might result from the sagging of the cord 23 when the trolley 22 is descending its track, I prefer to employ traveling supporting-frames 37, each consisting of wheels mounted on the cables 20 and provided with a depending sheave 38, situate beneath the traction-cable 23. These frames travel down the track with the car, and as the cable is let out they support it and prevent it from sagging, the extent .of motion of the frames being limited by a check-line 42, attached thereto and to the tower. (See Fig. 1.) On the back motion principally when the tower is situate at docks or river-banks, where the jib might become entangled with the rigging of vessels passing the tower or moving up to the same into position to be unloaded. The rear end of the jib is loosely upheld by an anti-friction roller or'other support 40, on which it may be moved back into the position shown in Fig. 1 or projected into the position shown in Fig. 2, this longitudinal motionbeing effected,preferably, by manual work of the operators of the apparatus or by a suitable power-driven capstan. (Not shown.) The braces 6 and 7 are pivotally connected at'both ends, and the brace 6 is jointed at a middle point, so that they shall not prevent the retraction of the jib.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The apparatus is very strong and durable, and by use of the cable track 20 the costly and inconvenient trestle-Work heretofore in common use may be dispensed with. This cable track may, if desired,be of great length, the use of the drum and weight serving to actuate the car equally well through long or short distances.

I claim as my invention 1. In a shift for coal, &c., the combination, with a supporting-tower, of a longitudinallymovable jib, a brace 7, connected with the jib, and a flexible connection 6, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the trolley, the bucket, the hoisting-cord, the pulley l1,around which the cord passes, and the block 11', secured to the pulley, said block having a surface adapted to fit loosely against the under side of the trolley, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the inclined track, the car, a retracting-cord, a drum to which the cord is attached, a weighted cord connected with the drum, an overhead pulley over which the last-named cord passes, and a brake for the drum, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a cable track, the combination of the cable fixed at one end, a rotary drum c,'to which the other end of the cable is attached, and a pulley 20 at the end of the track, around which pulley the cable passes, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of August, A. D. 1889.

THOS. McOARTY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, W. P. POTTER. 

